Electromagnetic grappling-tool.



C. G. MILLER.

ELEGTROMAGNETIG GRAPPLING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY12, 1910.

999,833, Patenpea Aug. 8,1911.

CONSTANTINE G. MILLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TQ THE MEAKERCOMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

ELECTROMAGNETIC GRAPPLING-TOOL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 12, 1910. Serial No. 560,909.

` many other devices wherein articles of magnetic materials are to betreated or operated upon, as, for instance, plated, it frequently occursthat some of such articles or devices become dislodged from the normalsupport therefor and fall to the bottom of the receptacle or tank and itsometimes becomes a matter of considerable difficulty to engage andremove thexsame therefrom. This is particularly true inl machines forplating iron and steel articles, and incon- Avenience, delay andannoyance are frequently occasioned by the ditliculty eX- perienced inemptying the tank after the completion of the run upon any one article.Owing to the fact that such articles may be of almost any shape, itbecomes frequently very ditiicult for ordinary grappling devices toengage the same and heretofore it has frequently been practicallyimpossible to re move all such devices and articles from the tank untilthe completionof the days run.

The object of this inventionis to provide an electro-magnetic grapplingtool, by the use of which any article of a magnetic nature may bequickly and readily engaged and lifted from the tank.

It is also an object of the invention to utilize a part of a platingcurrent for the purpose, and also to aord a grappling tool of the classdescribed, which may be quickly attached to, or detached from, theleads, thus permitting the Widest possible. range of use of the tool atany desired point in the tank, permitting quick detachment to enable thedevice to be used for one or more tanks.

The invention consists in the matters here-v with the coil shownsomewhat diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view with the `Shank orhandle broken away and in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of the upper or outer portion of the handle.l Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of Patented Aug. 8, 191.1.

one of the grips for engaging the lead wire.

As shown in the drawings: a bar of soft steel or iron 1, (which may beof any cross sectional form, but is shownl as cylindric) is threadedinto the larger end of the reducing coupling 2, inthe smaller end ofwhich is threaded a metal pipe 3, of the length desired for the body andony the upper end of which is provided a wooden or other suitable handgrip 4, for conveniently actuating the same.

Extending ldownwardly through the tubular body 3 is a conducting wire 5,which eX- Y tends outwardly through apertures in the coupling at theinner end of the bar or rod 1, as shown in Fig. 2, and is wound aboutsaid Vrod o r bar of soft metal or steel to afford a coil of any desirednumber of turns and the return end thereof is passed inwardly through anoppositely disposed aperture in said coupling and thence led upwardlythrough the body 3-and handle 4. Insulating paint such as P. B. paint,melted wax, or any suitable vmaterial is then poured into the tubularbody 3 to fill-the same for a desired distance and to entirely seal thewires in said coupling and body from injury from the electrolyte. Suchfilling material, indicated by 6, is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.Each lend of said wire conductor 5, is provided with a metallic grippingdevice for engaging the leads whereby the current is supplied to theanodes andcathodes in the tank to complete the circuit through the coil.For this purpose, as shown, a metallic snap is permanently secured oneach end of ably shaped jaw and a spring 9, is engaged,

on-the pintle affording a connection between said members and acting tohold the jaws firmly closed so that when once engaged in place upon theconductor a positive contact 1s assured.

The operation islas follows: When it is desired to clear the tank ofsuch objects or articles as may have fallen to the bottom therein, theends of the conductor Wire are connected by meansl of the snap securedto eachto the leads or conductors for the tank and in consequence thecomparatively Weak current flows through the coil, converting the bar ofsoft metal l, into a .temporary magnet, which, of course, is of suhcientpower to engage and lift the objects to be removed from the tank. rIheygrappling tool is, of course, manipulated by its handle, and havingcleared one portion of the tank, one or both of the snaps may bereleased and connected elsewhere on the conductors to an anode andcathode element of the tank at lating Wax or paint illing said body, itfollowsV they are protected from all injury rendering the grappling toolexceedingly durable as Well as edective.

0f course, I have shown but one (and that the preferred) forni of myinvention. l am ceases i aware that the particular shape of the magnetichead of said tool may be varied and various features o construction may'be modified Without departing from the pr1nciplesl of this invention. Itherefore do not purpose limiting myself otherwise than necessitated bythe prior art.

l claim as my invention:

An electro-magnetic grappling tool, embodying a soft metal bar, atubularv body, a reducing coupling connecting the tvvo and into whicheach is threaded, a handle on the outer end of said body, an insulatedWire Wound about said bar to form a coil and having the ends thereof ledthrough apertures in said coupling andinto and through said body andhandle, an insulating filling in said body, and means on each projectingextremity of said Wire coil to permit attachment to and release from thelead conductors for energizing saidcoil.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

CONSTANTlNE G- MILLER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES "W. HILLS, J r., LAWRENCE Rnrs'rEIN.

